Blackgate

Blackgate is a Power/Thrash metal band formed in late 2013 in Grand Rapids, MI. The current line-up consists of Matt Cremeans (guitar), Zach Flora (bass), Ryan Lunsford (drums), and Jeff Kollnot (guitar). Blackgate began the recording of their debut, as well as playing shows in the Michigan metal circuit, in Spring of 2014. In the spring and summer, they played several festival shows including West Michigan’s annual Carnival Of Chaos and the 2014 Moshpit Bootcamp. The Fall of 2014 brought about the release of Blackgate’s debut self-titled EP. The 6 song effort was met with critical success among many underground metal websites and magazines. With Recoil Magazine saying the EP showcases “…talent and drive that truly feels like the seeding to an epic vessel of metal”, and deadrhetoric.com categorizing the band as a “quintet of fiery players who know how to fuse riffs into powerful arrangements”. Blackgate continued to play shows throughout the Fall and Winter of 2014 following the release of their EP, highlighted by an opening slot for fellow Michigan metal band Battlecross on the opening date of their 2014 Winter Warriors national tour. After playing multiple shows throughout 2015, including earning opening spots for metal legends Symphony X and Overkill, Blackgate released their first full length album "Ronin" in July of 2016. This album has also been met with much critical success as it is circulating around the online underground metal scene. Hollywoodmetal.com stated that the album showed that Blackgate are able to "...combine fast and technical instrumentation on top of complimentary vocals which throwback to old aggressive power metal." While Truemetallives.com describes "Ronin" as "...the work of a talented band poised to break out of the local Grand Rapids scene and do some damage in the metal world at large." Power/Thrash Metal from Grand Rapids, MI. YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgFSdFdyHMG7N4ynjvDFwqg Bandcamp: https://blackgate.bandcamp.com